While the population of Ireland is over 6 million, it is estimated that 50 to 80 million people around the world have Irish connections, according to the Irish government, making the Irish diaspora one of the largest of any nation.
The UK has the greatest share of Irish people and the United States has the second largest Irish population in the world, followed closely by Australia and Canada.
No matter what their location, many Irish at home and abroad like to add a Celtic touch to their Christmas. So how Irish is yours?
A Candle at the Window
A previous President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, reintroduced the idea of a candle in the window across Ireland when she re-lit it in the presidential residence of Aras an Uachtarain to burn as a ‘welcome candle’ for all emigrants. This captured the imagination of emigrants worldwide and it is a simple yet important annual symbol now and a great way to incorporate Irish tradition.
Little Christmas
Little Christmas or Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) takes place on January 6th and is the official end of the Christmas season in Ireland. Many women still gather to celebrate this tradition with songs and verse or dinner. It’s a truly Celtic way of continuing a great Irish tradition.
Fresh Holly and Ivy
The lush greens of the holly and ivy look fabulous in wreaths, on mantelpieces in table settings and for those that can find their holly with red berries, this provides an even more seasonal look and is considered good luck. These evergreens add atmosphere at Christmas and their tradition lies with the Celts, where they were used to ward off any evil spirits. Rejuvenate this Celtic tradition this Christmas!
A Warm Fire
Most images of Christmas include a warm fire and of course it’s the entry point for Santa Claus! However, the tradition did not just stem from just the obvious comfort and warmth and atmosphere. The idea of the Christmas fire came from the Celtic tradition of ‘burning the yule log’ and this was a key component of Christmas for many many years and still continues to this day.
How Celtic will your Christmas be this year?